09/06/2026
We’ve moved around our paddocks!
Maverick and Dutton are now comfortable on the farm and understanding the day to day of the farm sights and sounds.
So yesterday I did the hard decision (after advice from my coach and trainer) and moved them into different paddocks so I can really begin working with each of them individually.
Maverick has been doing great with his lead rope work and even shows a strong liking for liberty work! His potential to learn quickly and enjoy being with his human is awesome…. Till Dutton whinnies for him.
So, to help both of them find their own way, and to start really making strides with Dutton, we needed them to be less co-dependent and find their own independence.
So Maverick has new paddock mates, being Cameo and Duke! I call this paddock now the slow and steady paddock. Plus the far paddock is phenomenal for muscle retention and building with the hills and enrichment.
I have made a youngin’s paddock, with Indigo, Dutton, Penny and Stevie. Stevie doesn’t let anyone get away with much teaching how to speak horse, and show respect for the hierarchy. While the other young horses allow Dutton to play and be 4.
Indi is very excited to finally have her fence friend there to play with, and boss around, but Stevie steps in when she gets too high for her britches lol
Switching horses around in paddocks takes a lot of thought and consideration of each individual horses personality and estimation of how they’d react. Certain horses have bonded to each other, and separating them is always a consideration and concern. Cooper adores Stevie, however Stevie also desires to be with Penny. Eventually when I don’t need Stevie’s strong but gentle teaching and correction with Dutton, I would love to have those three in a paddock together.
Scotty has “big horse energy” and is never nice when meeting new herd mates, so he’s definitely one I struggle with when introducing new herd mates. He does not like change and appreciates the consistency of his herd. He will not be able to be with Dutton for a long time.
This is where observing your herd; knowing each horses personality, and understanding why they have the paddock mates they do, and then changing the dynamics to either support consistency or development are key. Stevie is a wonderful gentle teacher. She will do phenomenal things for Dutton and Indigo.
Cameo is the peace keeper, with clear communication when meeting a new horse (she’s in charge) and multiple gentle warnings of the hierarchy- however the girl still has a double barrel kick that could take down a dinosaur so she can handle her own. Duke doesn’t want to put up with shenanigans, and will give quick corrections (that’s why I did have him with Indi when she came home), but also enjoys the finer things of just eating hay and no drama. They’re great buddies for Maverick!
We’ll see how the new dynamics go, and spend a lot of time observing and helping the dynamics settle. It’s a great time to sit and watch them!
